When to plant in Oxford, OH
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Oxford, Ohio — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 22 km from Oxford, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 6a means Oxford sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
FAIRFIELD · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Oxford’s own odds, recorded at FAIRFIELD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 17 | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Oct 1 | Oct 12 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | May 7 | Apr 19 | Apr 2 | Oct 9 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Apr 6 | Mar 22 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nov 16 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Oxford, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 25 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Oxford planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Oxford, OH?
Oxford's average last spring frost falls near April 19 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Oxford, OH?
In Oxford, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 22 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Oxford in?
Oxford is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Oxford?
There are roughly 186 frost-free days in Oxford (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 19 to the first fall frost near October 22.
When should I plant tomatoes in Oxford?
In Oxford, start tomato seeds indoors around February 22–March 8, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 26 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Oxford
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Oxford’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Hamilton · 20 km
- Trenton · 24 km
- Fairfield · 26 km
- Harrison · 28 km
- Forest Park · 31 km
- Northbrook · 32 km
- Middletown · 33 km
- Monroe · 33 km
Frost dates recorded at FAIRFIELD, 22 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Oxford, OH — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00332651. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/ohio/oxford.